THE LATE MR JOHN OXENFORD.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2593, 30 April 1877, Page 3

THE LATE MR JOHN OXENFORD.

The ..Times in;, a recent number, in alluding to the past career of this gentleman, who is deceased, says:—" For thirty years and more. John Oxenford has been a; conspicuous figure in "the literary world. Though chiefly, if not exclusively, known to outsiders as a dramatist and dramatic critic, he .was recognised by many competent to'judge as one of the: ripest- and most variously endowed scholars of Our timey' Born at Camberwell bn'August 12/1812, though brought up for the legal calling, he early in life took to ■literature 1 as J& favourite.i pursuit, , caring ■ 'little "' for a professibn in. which,' with his "remarkable intellectual powers, lie might.jhave^earned.'brilliant success. But,,Qxenford' was instinctively .a loverof. books—a devourer, of books would be the more emphatic and truer, expression. Considering his extraordinary : attain- 1 ments, it seems incredible that he should have been: almost self taught. Such, however, is the fact. He acquired Greek, Latin, and the principal modern languages entirely without aid ; and, in addition to •this, made himself, though only : an amateur in mathematics, able; to discuss problems and theorems with any professed master of• that difficult study. To, this, perhaps, he. was in a great measure indebted to .the; power of concentration, which was one of. his strongest points. His summary oj.theplo.t of a ntew- piece, for example, after .only once witnessing thejperformance, was.fie- - quently a- masterpiece of clearness and condensation. Everything necessary to inform-the reader was there, what was superfluous tpj the understanding of the { plot:'being discarded; so that one could j see the main purport of the drama as clearly asi one coukt seeone's own face in a looking-glass.- Some people may ask, ' Why, with all bis experience, learn., ing,, and varied,acquirements^ has.such a man left no great work to perpetuate his name.?' The question can only: be answered in one way, Mr Oxenford was so absorbed in the.; search of fresh: knowledge on all subjects that he spent much of his leisupa: in reading which he might liave more profttablyroccupied in%riting. 'He mus)- have' been instinctively a critic. , When ' fi new' beok bn!any philosophical theme came under ;his notice^ he would veM; digest it, and in a luminous essay, partly descriptive, partly critical, tell those 'all ajbout it who may not have had time, at disposal, or the Same irrepressible inclination to research. In spite of this, .Mr Oxenford was not merely a scholar, but an original thinker; and had it pleased him to write a book in which the rich produce of his studies should be; condensed irjto^ah accessible form and the light of his far-seeing intellect illume. the whole,, we shotdiihave gaine_daninvaluatteadii-' tion: to bilr?philps6phicj literatiifd.;' Bui; it was a fault with, himi that no .sooner h^d he read one ; book than he began.Janpthcr, using it to the same purport^BO^^hjathe never felt .disposed to let tHei jps»]rid become acquainted with himself .and- his. ability to frame a philosophy of his own. An enumeration of the -pieces written by him for the stage would take up more space than we can afford. The first was j a farce"called''My Fellow Clerk,'written : as far back" as 1835. Enough that he who could-criticise could write himself and aflbrd to be criticised in turn. Mr Oxenfbrd also supplied musical.composers with librettos.- for operas, among which may be mentioned 'jßobin Hood ' • Helvellyn' (Macfarren),/and the ' Lily of Xillarney'!(Benedict)? Cantatas, too, like the tranalatipiJ. of ' Leonore' (Macfarren) with others, came readily from his alwayi- fluent pen. ' That he was a genuine humourist would be proved alone by his farces,: 'Dearest Elizabeth,', and ■'. Twice Killed,' the last of which has not. only been translated for the German Stage, but also :fpr the French Opera Comique, where it served as ailibretto for Grisar's opera, 'Boh Soir,' 'Mpnsieur Pantalon.' He was, moreover) a true poet," as may be seen iti his numberless songs, some of which are among the purest lyrics we possess. It. is needless to say that' Mr. jOxenford was universally esteemed and, I>elpved by a- numerous circle of friends, who now mourn his IOSS." . ":''.. ." ', :.' "■ • . ... ';■ ;